9 Causes Of Pain During Sex, Because It's More Common Than You Think

Experiencing pain during sex may be more common than previouslythought, according to new research in the BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This survey of almost 7,000 British women aged 16 to 74 found that almost one in 10 experienced pain during sex. And that number is just too damn high. But, if you're someone who suffers yourself, you are definitely not alone. Painful sex was tied to lack of sexual enjoyment, unsurprisingly, as well as anxiety and vaginal dryness. Some women reported avoiding sex all together.

“Everyone gets some aches and pains from time to time,” Dr. Michael Krychman, MD, OBGYN, Sexual Medicine Gynecologist and the executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine, tells Bustle. “The concern for sexual pain is when it is persistent and does not subside. If it is associated with other symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, urinary pain/frequent urination, bleeding, persistent pain, vaginal discharge that has a bad odor, fever, chills for instance may signal something more pathological is going on. When in doubt, it is always best to consult a health care professional to get a proper evaluation.”

It's such a common problem, but like many issues around sex, for some reason we're shy about discussing it. But that needs to change.One way to help? Staying educated. Here's a list of some of the painful sex culprits, but when in doubt you should always consult a doctor:

1Dryness

The basic culprit — and one that's more common than you might think — is dryness. According to the Mayo Clinic,if you don't have enough foreplay or are just naturally on the drier side of things, sex can be uncomfortable or painful. That's why lube is your friend.

8Irritable Bowel Syndrome

I know, when you think of IBS you don't immediately think of sex. But it messes up your periods and causes general pelvic pain, says the Mayo Clinic, plus sex can also put pressure on the intestine, causing pain.

9An Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is when the fetus develops in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus and it can make sex very painful, says WebMD But it's also a very, very dangerous condition, so if there's any chance you have one you need to visit your doctor ASAP.

If you're one of the many women suffering during sex, there's no need to go through that silently. Talk to your doctor and get help — you deserve a satisfying sex life, you just may need the tools to get you there.